Optical readout of a superconducting qubit using a piezo-optomechanical transducer

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates optical readout of a superconducting qubit using a piezo-optomechanical transducer, potentially enabling scalable quantum processors by reducing cryogenic constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method for superconducting qubit readout via optical transduction, improving scalability and reducing cryogenic load.

Findings

Achieved 81% single-shot readout fidelity.

Successfully integrated optical fiber with superconducting qubit system.

Showed potential for scalable quantum computing with low dissipation.

Abstract

Superconducting quantum processors have made significant progress in size and computing potential. However, the practical cryogenic limitations of operating large numbers of superconducting qubits are becoming a bottleneck for further scaling. Due to the low thermal conductivity and the dense optical multiplexing capacity of telecommunications fiber, converting qubit signal processing to the optical domain using microwave-to-optics transduction would significantly relax the strain on cryogenic space and thermal budgets. Here, we demonstrate optical readout of a superconducting transmon qubit through an optical fiber connected via a coaxial cable to a fully integrated piezo-optomechanical transducer. Using a demolition readout technique, we achieve a single shot readout fidelity of 81%. Our results illustrate the benefits of piezo-optomechanical transduction for low-dissipation operation of large quantum processors.